New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-19
DEFINING IT'S OWN POWERS.
RULING BY THE COMMERCE COMMISSION.
1T WILL NOT ANSWER QUEsrIoNs-No AUTHORITY
FOR ABSTRACT INTERPRETATIONS.

1T WILL NOT ANSWER QUEsrIoNS-No AUTHORITY
FOR ABSTRACT INTERPRETATIONS.
WASHINGTON. April ls-By far the most important
action vet taken by Interstate Commerce Commission
Is the ruling which has been made public to-day The
immediate selected TO which to append the opn
ions OF the commission only affect the interests of limited
classes but the opinions themselves cover in important
respects Interpretations of the Int state Commerce law
and respecting the extent OF the powers
with which the commission deems itself charged. The
decision refers 10 the petition OF the Oer OF Railway
Conductors and TO that OF tho Traders and Travellers
Union The conductors propounded to the commission
series OF questions regading the right OF railroad
panIes the law TO furnish free transportation to
railroad employees The commercial travellers wished TO
know whether there was any why railroad
panies should not enter INTO arrangements similar to
those which heretofore existed to grant to CONNER
cia travellers increased allowance Of free baggage.
The answer Of the commission to tho two petitions SUBJ
stantially as follows:
zaons and raising questions OF Immediate practical
saee .rS avs made the Sso Tor it, con-
sirucon OF provisions Of the Act to Regulate Commerce.
touch the customs They have simply
esmsson TO announce certain conclusions at which il has
arrived respecting its iuri.detloa aud IT'S powers
which reach BY every mail that the impression Is seasr
interpret and apply Ie dw S rsons IN snyape m 20
methods OF dealing respect interstate commerce
nounccd by The statute for violating its provisions
careful reading o. e ATd 70 neSIais @ ne re- n
and others who have made similar applications that
under consideration An expression OF our opinion up
nor power conferred by the statute wond carry with 1t no
Judicial efficacy or sanction IN iact w9ni &c no moro useful
the carriers than the opinion OF other up
the same points. -, -,
TO entertain and decide applications and petitions
empowers upon application by common carrier to au
longer than for shorter DISTANCES over the same lne
OF the former part section, which Designated
Sc a@IRoT1es Complaints to the and conoPs
Jurisdiction to entertain the same II mat any PET
subject to he provisions Of this
said comm sson by petition which shall briefly state the
nycn nns.s is made an Investigation is re-
oured Upon such an invcsugaon , .ao ~ ih W
the complained OF not In conavenon
a. se To ssne dS en tho o@ further
violation Of the law and to award i9f inc injury
Traders and Travellers Union complain that any common
II railroad company snonli issue pass to conductor
and his family attend the or should
traveller under the registry and Indemnity systea and
just wond then be proper for the nmls
sion to entertain t9e Question OF %n9sss ' SSaos was
was exceptions stated within section 22 Com
carriers are not considered reasonable and just until
Uy it would DO worse than useless Tor Us TO
4hese Seions nos Z and 81 of expressed
plain words construction must be gven TO them IN The
course Of Conduct has been ADOPTED Of complaint
MAJ made is' Toe the me S e eompsn
Ing party may eee hi ns PpT AMI mnsi IN " S.
tion presents no exception . ,,, >, -
from the NUMEROUS petitions before
PPrs,on not b. the Prosucnen Of The carriers hesevrs
tho baTs heretofore Ss, on special az their
hands. describes the system OF penalties which
and volacrs Of it, provisions as enor
such comment seems TO us neither tar nor lust
failure do an act which the law requires the offend
actual sustained together with reaonabe couns,
or n Zee 80 De fs l ~ ira ae @ secS 10 pc
nne Of not 70 exceed "TSn o aT r RI AID
TO be doneor willingly suffer or permit TO be done any pr,ho
states civil remedy described In section adds at
toraeys fee TO me exsng common law right OF any INJURED
Of affairs which CRAFTY alarm corporations disposed 20
onrio isy pertains y Intentional Of tho law and
TO be graduated by the court according TO le
Gooi iaih exhibited effort carry
sas.is DANCER q a. s.%.f sv q +. :;
railroad Managers II such there be-. who reIa'e TO
Ssep; snoaes eooa Of emssrTa re
customary inheritance Of onness and impose
phrases expressions Of tho law nveHtng doubts and
companies make use 81 the ssuef. clause. Of the law r.
orier 10 iiapose additional upon localities trades
Proesons as y 81 m
eorporas treasury and quoting The new law AZ
81 he Commission ar entirely adequate @ cops With
conduct the existence o. which not smrmed although II
whcS ss ensSSs TIA, charge: anoT
ana class OF service shall be reasonable and Just
The reply which has been sent 10 Decatur AIte. In
answer to petition from the Richmond and Allegheny
Railroad for exemption from the long and short haul
clause in substance the ms has been sent TO
number OF petitions The reply states that the
petition verified which In itself would be sufficient
TO prevent It's considerations that does not state Facts
Which render the Ordinary operation OF the law opprcs
sve extent that warrants special exception and
not grant gene al suspension TO any road. but gives
relief only AS to the traffic between specified points"
Tire express companies having raised question as 10
whether they were suec to the operations OF the Inter
Commerce Law. the commission made ruling that
would hold in the affirmative but would give hearing
10 any company wishing 10 contest the point The
Express Company, In response 10 whose inquiry this
carrying out the provisions law II forwards
copy OF s general tan from offices In the United states
IN reply to Bishop knickerbocker OF Indianapolis who
inquired TO the right OF railroad to transport mission
aries special reduced rates the commission writes that
has no power the premises but intmatcs that rail
which shall decide that they have the night u make
such rates for missionaries will probably lay themselves
In the matter Of the Bsrbed Steel Wire Company
OF Iowa amen soagh. @ ior tme
mission rules that the privilege Is one which lawful
View Of what was dictated by their interest or their
policy. On the other hand II the privilege II which
the railroad companies cannot grant voluntarily be-
OF It's coming under the condemnation OF the law
neither the commission give authority 10 grant H."
In answer 30 Acting Secretary OF the Interior Null
drow, who asked whether 1t would DO lawful for
the railroads TO grant special rates TO tho
contractors for the transportation OF Indian supplies
Judge Cooley writes that although Is contrary the
policy OF the commission 10 rule hypothetical cases.
vet out OF difference 10 department OF the Govern
Insnt the commission makes an exception In the
and decides that such transportation being practically
for tho United States" 10 specially excepted from the
action OF the law
WESTERN ORDERS NOT TICKETS, SOLD.
PHASES OF THE COMMISSION CONTEST TRUNK